Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2009 Lincoln MKS, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Service brakes9
- Air bags8
- Vehicle speed control7
- Unknown or other5
- Seats4
- Engine4
- Structure3
- Electrical system3
- Power train3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 19 2009 MKS vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2009 Lincoln MKS failed the safety check 3.50% of the time — 39% more often than the average 2009 passenger car (2.52%). Median odometer at inspection: 117,705 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 12.2–12.6 L/100 km (about 19 mpg US), CO₂ 281–290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKS · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 9.9 | 12.2 |
| MKS AWD · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 14.5 | 10.4 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 2009 Lincoln MKS.
| 2019281 11 Jun 2019 | Suspension Issue: On certain vehicles, a buildup of dirt and mud could cause the rear suspension toe links to break. This could result in a sudden loss of vehicle stabil… |
| 2016186 26 Apr 2016 | Airbag Certain vehicles may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 208 - Occupant Protection in Frontal Impacts. Due to an as… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2009-2012 Ford Flex, 2008 and 2010-2012 Ford Taurus, 2008-2009 Ford Taurus X, 2008 Mercury Sable, 2009 and 2011 Lincoln MKS vehicles. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Lincoln told its dealers about the 2009 Lincoln MKS: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10235153 | For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to order a replacement module using a vehicle identification number (VIN) from a different vehicle. Most modules on these affected vehicles are VIN/vehicle specific and hardware variations between modules do exist. Swapping a module from a vehicle or ordering a module using a different vehicle/VIN can cause ineffective repairs and additional vehicle down time. Make sure all appropriate Workshop Manual (WSM) procedures are |
| 10137131 | Some 2007-2016 Edge/MKX/Flex/MKT/MKZ/MKS/Taurus/Police Interceptor Sedan/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with AWD and built on or before 30-Jun-2016 may exhibit a propane or natural gas odor during idle or low speed driving. This may be due to break down of the power transfer unit (PTU) fluid caused by excessive heat. If the source of the odor is identified as originating from the PTU, an idler bearing repair kit is available to repair the PTU. Refer to the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 308-07. If the PTU is determined to be repairable, utilize kit GB5Z-7P258-A and the i |
| 10137113 | Replacing the original equipment SYNC/Navigation system with either an aftermarket SYNC/Navigation kit or modifying original SYNC/Navigation parts to provide additional features is not recommended nor supported on any Ford, Mercury or Lincoln vehicle. Only approved Genuine Ford accessories or originally installed systems are supported and certified to function correctly with other vehicle systems. If you suspect a system has been modified, the following resources can be used to verify original equipment: Monroney Label (Window Sticker), Professional Technician Society (PTS) OASIS tab select |
| 10109070 | The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer |
| 10095858 | SOME 2007-2016 EDGE/MKX/FLEX/MKT/MKZ/MKS/TAURUS/TAURUS POLICE/EXPLORER/EXPLORER POLICE EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 30-JUN-2016 MAY EXHIBIT A TICKING AND/OR KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVELINE AREA. TO IDENTIFY THIS NOISE, REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 100-04, AND FOLLOW THE SYMPTOM CHART. IF THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE IS IDENTIFIED AS THE PTU AND/OR INTERNAL TO THE PTU, DISASSEMBLE PTU ASSEMBLY. REFER TO UPDATED WSM, SECTION 308-07. IF THE PTU IS DETERMINED TO BE REPAIRABLE, UTILIZE KIT GB5Z-7P258-A AND THE INCLUDED INSTRUCTION SHEET. FOR CLAIMING, US |
| 10095184 | REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT SYNC/NAVIGATION SYSTEM WITH EITHER AN AFTERMARKET SYNC/NAVIGATION KIT OR MODIFYING ORIGINAL SYNC/NAVIGATION PARTS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FEATURES IS NOT RECOMMENDED NOR SUPPORTED ON ANY FORD, MERCURY OR LINCOLN VEHICLE. ONLY APPROVED GENUINE FORD ACCESSORIES OR ORIGINALLY INSTALLED SYSTEMS ARE SUPPORTED AND CERTIFIED TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY WITH OTHER VEHICLE SYSTEMS. IF YOU SUSPECT A SYSTEM HAS BEEN MODIFIED, THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES CAN BE USED TO VERIFY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT: MONRONEY LABEL (WINDOW STICKER), PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIAN SOCIETY (PTS) OASIS TAB SELECT |
| 10057395 | LINCOLN/FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES, THE MOON ROOF SUNSHADE BINDING IS EXPERIENCING ISSUES SUCH AS RETAINING CLIPS/TABS ARE BROKEN AND ITS HARD TO OPEN OR CLOSE. MODEL 2009-14 MKS, 2011-15 EXPLORER, 2013-14 ESCAPE. *PE |
| 10056170 | LINCOLN/FORD: ON SOME VEHICLES AND TRUCKS, THERE IS A POPPING, SQUEALING, BINDING OR GRINDING NOISE COME FROM POWER SEATS WHEN MOVING BACKWARDS OR FORWARD. MODEL 2009-2015 F-150, TAURUS, FLEX, MKT, MKS, F-SUPER DUTY, EXPLORER. *PE |
| 10053274 | FORD/LINCOLN: ON SOME VEHICLES, TRANSMISSION 5TH GEAR START AT STOP, SPEED CONTROL DROPS OR INOPERATIVE, BACKUP CAMERA ON IN DRIVE, 5TH GEAR START FROM STOP AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OR NEUTRAL OUT, DUE TO DIGITAL TRANSMISSION RANGE (TR) SENSOR HIGH RESISTANCE. MODELS 2009-11 EDGE, TAURUS, FLEX; 2009-11 MKS, MKX, MKT. *PE |
| 10039155 | FORD: THERE MAY BE A ROUGH IDLE OR MISSES WHILE THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS ON. THERE ARE MUTLIPLE POSSIBLE TROUBLE CODES STORED. *RM |
| 10039119 | FORD: THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT IS ON DUE TO LOW PRESSURE OF ONE OF THE TIRES. THERE MAY BE CORROSSION IN THE TIRE BEAD SEAT AREA. 2009-2011 EDGE/MKX. *RM |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)